C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2020
– E S T. 18 51
VOLUME 169 • ISSUE 72 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Big wheels (of justice) keep on turning ■ Virus no help in dodging law Pat Lakey Staff writer A young lady wearing bright blue mascara tugged on her skirt’s hem to try to cover a bit of startlingly evident flesh as she recently approached the security checkpoint at El Dorado County Superior Court’s Dept. 7 on Fair Lane in Placerville. She needn’t have bothered with the eye makeup and eye-catching outfit, however, and she didn’t even get as far as walking through the scanner that checks for weapons as people file toward Judge Mark Ralphs’ courtroom. That’s because it turned out that the young man she had come to see — her boyfriend who was in the county jail and set for a court appearance that day — wasn’t there. The young woman dropped her shoulders and cocked a hip as she listened to the sheriff ’s deputy on
security detail explain that the girlfriend still could observe the court proceeding by going upstairs in county government Building C and firing up her cell phone. “We have free WiFi upstairs and you can go to the website and watch remotely,” smiled the officer, watching as the disappointed gal began digging in her bag for her phone while she headed for the stairway. It’s a long way from the days when court bailiffs had to keep an eagle eye out for scantily clad girlfriends trying to communicate in person with the lads dressed in orange, signs posted prominently in the courtroom saying that such interaction is strictly forbidden. But still, the ladies managed to give the guys in jail custody something to lift their spirits — until the coronavirus not only closed stores and put a halt to normal life, but put the kibosh on that as well. Despite COVID-19 changing much of what had been ■
See JUSTICE, page A6
Democrat photo by Pat Lakey
Superior Court Judge Mark Ralphs arraigns a suspect whose “appearance” in court manifests in the adjacent TV screen. Ralphs, his court clerk and the court reporter, along with a couple security deputies, were physically in the courtroom, but the defendant, his attorney and the prosecuting deputy DA all were piped in via Zoom.
State mandates facial coverings Dylan Svoboda Staff writer As state health officials work to curb the spread of COVID-19, California has made it a requirement to wear a mask in most indoor and some outdoor settings. The state started mandating face coverings when distancing isn’t possible Thursday, a day when El Dorado County officials found four more coronavirus cases in county residents. “Science shows that face coverings and masks work,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a press release. “They are critical to keeping those who are around you safe, keeping businesses open and restarting our economy.” California joins Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Michigan and New York as the first to implement a statewide mask order. People in California must wear face coverings when they are in the high-risk situations, which includes: • Waiting in line to enter any indoor public space • In a healthcare sector setting • Riding in or driving for public transit or a ride-share • Working with other people or visitors • Working in food prep or packaging • Walking through common areas • When they are in a room or enclosed area with other people while unable to physically distance • While outdoors in public spaces with others from outside their household while unable to physically distance The mask order contains several exemptions, including: • Children under two-years-old. • Those with a medical condition, mental health condition or disability that prevents wearing a face covering. ■
Photos by Jesse Saich/El Dorado Irrigation District
At Wednesday’s ceremony, EID General Manager Jim Abercrombie discussed how pleased he was that the Folsom Lake water intake improvements were moving forward given the age of the pumps and how important they are in supplying El Dorado Hills with water.
EID kicks off big project ■ $42 million in improvements coming for Folsom Lake water intake Dawn Hodson Staff writer It was a big day for the El Dorado Irrigation District as members of the board, staff members and other officials gathered Friday above Folsom Lake to celebrate the kick-off of a major infrastructure project. Benefitting tens of thousands of residents in El Dorado Hills, in February the EID Board of Directors unanimously approved spending $42
See MASKS, page A3
■
See EID, page A6
Digging in, members of the El Dorado Irrigation District board help to kick off the project at Folsom Lake. From left to right are Directors Lori Anzini, Mike Raffety, President George Osborne, Alan Day and Pat Dwyer.
Heavenly, Kirkwood to open in July with limited activities Tahoe Daily Tribune SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — Heavenly and Kirkwood mountain resorts will be open for select summer activities ahead of July 4. Vail Resorts announced Thursday they will be open daily from July 3 through Labor Day, Sept. 7. The Heavenly Gondola will be open with Tamarack Express Chairlift, hiking trails, Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster and food and drink at Café Blue and Tamarack Lodge will possibly open July 15. Kirkwood will have human-powered activities such as hiking and biking trails (no lift access) and disc golf. The General Store will be open seven days a week beginning June 23. Everyone is expected to “pack it in, pack it out.” “Summer is a special time in the Sierra and we
look forward to welcoming guests back to the outdoors to have fun, refresh and recharge,” said Tom Fortune, vice president and general manager of Heavenly. “While we are offering limited summer activities, we are lucky that our beautiful outdoor settings provide a landscape to experience nature and to easily practice physical distancing so we all can safely return to the mountains we love.” Heavenly is requiring guests to wear face coverings in lines, when loading and unloading chair lifts or gondolas, on the mountain coaster and in indoor resort facilities. Anyone not adhering to the policy will not be allowed to participate in activities. ■
Photo courtesy of Heavenly Mountain Resort
Ridge Rider Mountain may open in mid July.
See HEAVENLY, page A3
HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALS
$
500 Of f
Complete Roof Replacement Ask About No-Cost Financing!
Mountain Democrat 2019
2200 1109
(530 ) 677-5032
Offer expires June 30, 2020
•
office@nail-it-roofing.com
$
150 Off
Repairs ($1,000 Minimum) Offer expires June 30, 2020
•
FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLE!
www.nail-it-roofing.com
Call (530) 344-5000 for convenient home delivery and FREE online access to www.mtdemocrat.com